ir?r 


/ 


CONVENTION 


: 


—  OF- 


Colored  Newspaper  Men 


Cincinnati,  August  Jfth,  1875, 

Wednesday  A.  M. 


The  "Convention  of  Colored  Newspaper 
Men*'  was  called  to  order  at  10  o'clock,  in 
Union  Chapel,  on  Seventh  street,  between 
Central  avenue  and  Plum  street.  Governor 
Pinchback  in  the  chair. 

Mayor  Johnston,  being  present,  was  invited 
to  the  stand,'  and  delivered  a  short  address 
of  welcome  to  the  delegates  present.  He 
hoped  his  presence  would  not  be  regarded  as 
an  intrusion,  for  he  heartily  approved  the  ob- 
ject of  the  meeting.  Cincinnati  had  been 
favored  as  the  place  of  assemblage  lor  all 
kinds  ot  conventions — Christian  and  anti- 
Christian,  temperance  and  anti-temperance: 
and  it  had  been  his  mission  to  be  present  with 
all  of  them.  He  then  heartily  tendered  the 
Convention  the  hospitalities  of  the  city,  and 
hoped  their  deliberations  would  be  pleasant 
and  profitable. 

^emor  Pinchback,  on  behalf  of  the  Con- 
vention, returned  thanks  to  the  Mayor  for  his 
words  of  welcome,  and  in  addressing  the 
delegates,  said: 

A  year  and  a  half  ago  a  paragraph  went 
around  proposing  a  National  organization  ol 
colored  editors.  A  call  was  issued,  and  we 
have  met  here  to-day  in  pursuance  of  that 
object.  Our  first  object  is  to  make  colored 
people's  newspapers  self-sustaining — not  that 
we  expect  to  make  money  out  of  them.  Our 
people,  as  a  class,  are  not  largely  a  reading 
class,  but  it  is  on  them  that  we  must  relj  for 
patronage.  Of  the  four  millions  who  were 
recently  in  slavery  we  can  not  expect  any 
large  portion  of  them  to  be  readers:  but  we 
must  look  to  their  children  as  they  grow  up. 
We  can  not  expect,  for  some  time,  to  derive 
much  income  from  ad\  erl  ising,  not  until  our 


people  become  active  and  enterprising  in 
business  matters. 

In  making  the  call  for  this  organization  we 
included  the  ministers,  for  they  can  do  more 
than  any  other  class  to  induce  the  colored 
people  to  become  readers  of  newspapers. 
The  fact  was.  said  the  speaker,  warming  up 
and  becoming  truly  eloquent,  the  colored 
people  must  learn  to  rely  more  upon  them- 
selves than  heretofore.  Even  in  Congress 
the  white  people,  the  dominant  race,  are  be- 
ginning to  throw  into  our  teeth  that  enough 
lias  been  done  for  us,  and  we  must  now  take 
care  of  ourselves.  For  one,  1  do  not  object 
to  tnis.  We  are  numerous  enough,  and  all 
we  need  is  to  lie  intelligent  enough  to  take 
care  of  ourselves.  We  are  four  millions,  out 
of  thirty  millions  who  inhabit  this  country: 
and  we  have  rights  as  well  as  privileges  to 
maintain,  and  wo  must  assert  our  manhood 
in  their  vindication. 

The  black  people  of  this  country  can  furnish 
in  time  of  need,  for  its  defense,  over  800,000 
soldiers  to  march  under  the  glorious  banner 
of  universal  liberty.  With  this  force  as  ;i 
political  element,  and  as  laborers,  producer^ 
and  consumei  s,  we  are  an  element  of  strength 
and  wealth  loo  powerful  to  be  ignored  by  the 
American  people.  All  we  need  is  a  just  ap- 
preciation of  our  own  power  and  our  own 
manhood.  This  rolling  in  the  dust— this 
truckling  to  power,  whether  wrapped  up  in 
an  individual  or  a  party,  I  have  long  -nice 
abandoned.  I  strike  out  boldly,  as  il  born  in 
a  desert,  and  looking  for  civilization.  I  am 
groping  about  through  this  American  forest 
of  prejudice  and  proscription,  determined  to 
find  some  form  <>t  civilization  where  :H!  men 


i  2) 


will  be  accepted  for  what  they  are  worth. 
I  demand  nothing  for  our  race  because  they 
are  black.  Even  the  wrongs  of  two  hundred 
years  I  will  overlook,  although  they  entitle 
us  to  some  consideration.  Still  I  hope  the 
future  will  present  no  necessity  for  frequent 
reference  to  this  matter. 

The  speaker  said  be  would  not  advise  any 
separate  political  organization:  but  as  the 
Irish  and  the  German  citizens  of  this  country 
had  their  organizations  for  the  promotion  of 
their  mutual  interests,  they  must  consolidate 
their  efforts  and  work  together  harmoniously 
to  a  common  purpose. 

Mr.  Pinchback  then  called  Mr.  J.  Henri 
Kurch  to  preside  as  temporary  Chairman. 

On  motion  L.  D.  Easton  was  made  tempor- 
ary Secretary. 

Governor  Pinchback  moved  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee  of  three  on  permanent 
organization. 

A  Committee  on  Credentials  was  also  voted. 

The  Chairman  announced  as  the  Committee 
on  Credentials,  Messrs.  J.  H.  Jackson,  J.  Sel- 
la Martin,  M.  W.  Gibbs. 

Committee  on  Organization — Messrs.  P.  B. 
S.  Pinchback,  H.  M.Turner  and  B.  W.  Arnett. 

After  fifteen  minutes'  recess  the  Commit- 
tees made  the  lollowing 

REPORT  ON   CREDENTIALS. 

The  Committee  on  Credentials  reported  the 
fol  1  o  w i  ng  d elega  tes : 

American  Citizen,  Lexington,  Kentucky — 
Henry  Seroggins,  J.  H.  Jackson,  J.  M.  Jack- 
son. James  I'limer,  Henry  King. 

Planet,   Memphis,  Tennessee — E.  D.  Shaw . 

Elevator,  San  Francisco,  California — L.  11. 
Douglass. 

Louisianian,  New  Orleans — P.  B.  S.  Pinch- 
back,  G.  T.  Kubey. 

True  Republican,  Carroll  Parish,  Louisiana 
—J.  Sella  Martin. 

Grand  Era,  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana— J.  H. 
Burch. 

Pacific  Appeal-M.  W.  Gibbs. 

Spectator,  Galveston,  Texas  —  Peter  H. 
Clark. 

Concordia  Eagle,  Louisiana — David  Young. 

Christian  Recorder,  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania—B.  W.  Arnett,  H.  M.  Turner. 

Colored  Citizen, Cincinnati,  Ohio.— Charles 
W.  Bell. 

Progressive  American,  New  York— General 
T.  M.  Chester. 

Terre  Bonne  Republican,  Louisiana— W.  G. 
Brown. 

L.  D.  Easton. 

The  report  w  us  adopted. 

REPORT   ON   ORGANIZATION. 

The  Committee  on  Organization  reported: 

For  President— Peter  H.  Clark. 
Vice  President— L.  H.  Dou»lass. 
Secretary— Geo.  T.  Rubey. 
Assistant.   Secretaries— J.   C.  Jackson,    L. 
D.  Easton. 
The  Chairman  then  asked  if  the  Convention 


was  ready  to  adopt  the  reports,  but  receiv- 
ing no  response,  he  called  Mr.  Rubey  to  the 
chair,  and  then  taking  the  floor,  intimated 
that  he  had  several  serious  objections.  He 
wanted  to  know  whether  the  Convention 
was  to  be  an  Editorial  Convention,  or  a  con- 
vention of  straw.  He  had  the  greatest  re- 
spect for  the  gentleman  nominated  as  pre- 
siding officer.  Peter  H.  Clark,  but  he  did  not 
know  about  the  Galveston  Spectator;  he 
doubted  whether  it  had  an  existence  at  all; 
it  certainly  had  not  appeared  on  his  table,  as 
an  exchange,  for  a  long  time.  How  could 
Mr.  Clark  represent  that  paper,  if  it  was  a 
paper?  He  instanced  several  other  such 
representatives  of  newspapers,  and  depre- 
cated the  attempt  to  organize  the  Convention 
by  officering  it  with  men  not  legitimately  con- 
nected with  papers.  He  himself  was  the 
publisher  of  a  live  paper.  His  time  and  his 
money  were  engaged  in  it;  and  he  did  not 
want  to  be  bound  by  the  action  of  men  who 
are  not  so  engaged.  He  then  referred  to  a 
caucus,  on  the  night  before,  at  which  his 
position  had  been  mistated,  in  relation  to  the 
chairmanship  of  the  Convention.  He  was 
sorry  to  say  that  some  remarks  had  been 
made  that  were  false  and  malicious. 

Mr.  J.  Sella  Martin  replied,  to  the  effect 
that  though  the  call  for  the  Convention  em- 
anated from  editors  of  papers,  it  was  subse- 
quently extended  to  clergymen  and  others 
interested  in  the  intellectual  development  of 
the  colored  race;  and  that  some  men  not 
directly  connected  with  newspapers,  were 
better  qualified  to  promote  this  object  than 
some  that  were. 

Mr.  Burch  followed  in  a  rejoinder,  during 
the  delivery  of  which,  was  called  to  order 
by  several  members  at  different  times,  but 
continued  until  he  had  relieved  himself  of 
the  indignity  he  considered  thrown  upon 
him. 

Mr.  Bell,  of  Cincinnati,  who  had  been  re- 
ported as  a  representative  of  the  Citizen,  ad- 
mitted that  that  paper  had  been  dead  two 
vears,  but  intimated  that  there  were  some- 
times more  life  in  a  corpse  than  in  some  liv- 
ing bodies.  He  didn't  care  what  he  repre- 
sented, he  was  interested  in  the  objects  of 
the  Convention,  and  hoped  further  personal 
differences  would  be  dispensed  with,  and 
that  the  meeting  would  proceed  to  business. 

Mr.  Scroggins,  of  the  American  Citizen, 
also  made  a  few  remarks  calculated  to  heal 
the  trouble. 

Mr.  Peter  Clark  then  arose,  and  stated 
that  he  was  not  the  representative  of  a  dead 
paper;  that  he  received  the  Galveston  Spec- 
tator up  to  the  present  time,  and  could  show 
a  letter  in  which  the  editor  requested  him  to 
represent  his  paper  in  this  Convention. 

The  temporary  Chairman,  Mr.  Burch,  hav- 
ing resumed  tbje  chair,  then  put  the  question 
on  the  adoption  of  the  report  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  Organization.  He  asked  the  privilege 
of  voting,  and  gave  the  only  negative  vote. 

A  committee  was  then  appointed  to  con- 
duct the  President  elect  to  the  chair,  and 
Peter  H.  Clark  was  duly  presented  to  the 
Convention  as  its  President. 


fHE  FLOWERS* 


(3) 


MR.  CLARK'S  ADDRESS. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Convention :— Probably 

no  words  are  ever  more  sincere  than  those 
which  a  man  utters  when  he  returns  thanks 
to  his  fellow  men  for  honors  conferred — Diog- 
enes himself,  if  raised  to  the  presidency  ol 
a  conference  of  cynics,  would  have  felt  his 
natural  moroseness  softened,  and  couched 
his  thanks  in  courteous  phrase. 

1  will  not,  therefore  waste  time  in  assur- 
ing you  that  1  profoundly  thank  you  for  the 
■food  will  shown  by  placing  me  in  this  chair, 
hut  will  endeavor  to  prove,  by  my  devotion 
to  the  duties  of  my  office,  that  1  am  grateful 
to  you. 

I  can  not  look  over  this  assemblage  of  gen- 
tlemen, representing  the  Colored  Press  of 
America,  without  realizing  its  feeble  begin- 
ning, when  Doctor  Chas.  B.  Ray  published 
in  New  Yoik  city,  his  "Colored  American," 
then  down  through  our  long  list  of  failures. 
the  Ram's  Horn,  North  Star,  Mystery.  Palla- 
dium of  Liberty,  Aliened  American,  Colored 
Citizen,  Anglo  African.  New  Era,  and  so 
lorth  and  so  on  for  quantity,  to  this  day  when 
twelve  newspapers  send  their  delegates  to 
speak  for  them  in  this  conference.  Add  to 
these  the  papers  controlled  by  colored  men, 
which  are  not  here  represented;  then  those 
upon  which  they  have  recognized  positions 
as  editorial  writers,  and  the  exhibit  is  an  ex- 
cellent one  for  a  race,  whose  bodies,  and 
worse,  whose  souls  still  bear  the  scars  in- 
flicted by  the  driver's  whip. 

1  am  now  convinced  that  tbese  earlier  ef- 
forts were  not'  failures.  The  pioneer  who 
blazes  a  path  into  the  wilderness,  who  erects 
there  his  cabin  of  logs,  and  contends  for  a 
few  years  with  the  malaria  of  the  forest,  its 
savage  men  and  beasts,  and  then  dies,  is  no 
failure.  He  demonstrates  the  possibility  of 
what  he  has  undertaken,  and  those  who  come 
alter  him  make  his  possibility  an  actuality. 

Those  pioneer  editors  and  publishers  whom 
we  are  now  considering,  demonstrated  that 
there  is  a  possibility  of  maintaining  a  colored 
man's  newspaper,  when  there  shall  be  found 
conjoined  the  business  skill  and  the  editorial 
ability,  to  meet  the  public  want  and  com- 
mand the  public  confidence. 

There  is  more  need  for  colored  men's  news- 
papers to-day  than  ever,  for  reasons  which  1 
shall  briefly  present : 

1.  No  white  man, however  friendly,  can  feel 
our  wrongs  as  acutely,  or  express  our  wants 
as  fully  as  a  colored  man  can. 

2.  Our  young  men  need  an  opportunity  to 
gain  an  experience  and  feel  the  stimulus  af- 
forded by  newspaper  writing,  which  experi- 
ence and  stimulus  are  grudgingly  given  by 
the  conductors  of  white  men's  newspapers. 

3.  Our  leading  men  need  a  personal  organ 
for  the  promulgation  of  their  views  and  the 
encouragement  of  their  followers.  This  they 
need  more  than  white  men  of  the  same  class. 
because  the  expression  of  sentiment  which 
is  freely  accorded  to  white  men  as  a  right, 
is  given  to  colored  men  as  a  favor. 

4.  We  need  a  paper  for  the  dissemination  of 
news,  concerning  the   social,  religious   and 


political  movements  of  our  people,  which  are 
for  the  most  part  unheeded  by  the  press  of 
the  country.  That,  which  reflects  credit 
upon  us,  seldom  finds  its  way  into  print,  only 
our  criminals  are  sure  of  having  their  deeds 
reported. 

6.  We  need  papers  for  the  discussion  of  a 
public  policy,  and  for  obtaining  that  unity  of 
action  that  comes  from  a  unity  of  views. 

We  meet,  gentlemen,  in  an  auspicious  mo- 
ment in  the  history  of  our  race  on  this  con- 
tinent, a  moment  when  we  need  not  look  to 
our  friends  to  do  all  for  us;  because  we  are 
free  to  labor  for  ourselves. 

On  the  staircase,  leading  io  the  gallery  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  is  a  picture, 
representing  a  party  of  emigrants  surmount- 
ing the  last  mountain  barrier  between  them 
and  the  golden  shores  of  the  1  acitic.  Behind 
them  is  the  thousand  miles  of  travel  over  the 
trackless  prairie,  every  step  beset  with  dan- 
ger: behind  is  the  Buttering  encountered  in 
passing  the  arid  wastes  of  the  Nevada  deserts. 
The  setting  sun,  borrowing  its  hues  from  the 
golden  sands  upon  which  it  shines,  irradi- 
ates the  faces  of  the  foremost  men  and 
causes  the  involuntary  shout  of  joy,  which 
lightens  to  a  degree  the  toil  worn  faces  of 
those  who  are  yet  far  down  in  the  shadows  of 
the  mountain  slope,  and  who  have  not  yet 
seen  the  glories  of  the  promised  land. 

In  like  manner  we  are  surmounting  the  last 
barrier,  which  stands  between  us  and  the 
universal  recognition  of  our  equal  citizenship 
in  the  land  of  our  birth. 

But  we  are  not  yet  entered  upon  the  enjoy- 
ment of  our  birthright.  Our  poverty,  our 
ignorance,  our  lack  of  union  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  race  prejudice  and  pride  of  the  whites 
on  the  other,  conspire  to  render  our  progress 
slow  and  painful,  so  slow,  that  at  tunes  we 
almost  fancy  that,  we  have  come  to  a  lull  halt. 

But  we  do  move.  We  are  gathering  to  our- 
selves the  elements  of  national  growth,  and 
our  posterity  will  stand  in  the  future  the  un- 
challenged equals  of  the  best  in  the  land. 

The  old  Grecian  apothegna  "know  thyself" 
should  be  well  pondered  by  our  people  before 
they  enter  upon  this  struggle.  We  should 
know  ourselves,  and  we  should  know  the 
obstacles  which  beset  our  path. 

It  is  vain  to  hope  that  we  can  overcome  this 
fight  in  a  single  day  or  generation  of  days 
even.  We,  who  are  at  the  front  to-day,  must 
expect  to  be  laid  in  our  graves  before  the 
victory  is  won.  Let  us  so  act,  that  when  our 
sons  take  our  places  in  the  fight,  that  the 
surroundings  shall  be  more  favorable,  and  the 
difficulties  to  be  overcome  less  formidable 
than  to-day.  If  we  can  point  to  obstacles 
overcome  by  us,  we  will  increase  the  hope 
and  energy  with  which  they  will  struggle. 

The  plebians  of  Rome,  though  of  the  same 
race  with  their  patrician  oppressors,  found  a 
century  and  a  half  consumed  in  the  strife  for 
equality.  The  commons  of  England  waited 
from  Henry  II  to  .James  11,  five  hundred 
j  years,  before  they  could  call  themselves  free- 
men indeed. 

We   can    not  hope   to   do   better:   we  may 
1  count  ourselves  happy  if  we  do  as  well. 


(  \ ) 


We  need  intelligence,  wealth  and  union, 
but  above  all  things  we  need  confidence.  We 
need  the  confidence  of  the  white  man;  we 
must  inspire  him  with  confidence  in  our  in- 
telligence and  confidence  in  our  integrity. 
Hut  tirsl  we  need  confidence  in  ourselves; 
confidence  in  our  own  intelligence;  confi- 
dence in  our  own  integrity;  confidence  in  our 
own  capacity. 

This  confidence  is  a  plant  of  slow  growth, 
hut  when  grown,  is  of  inestimable  value. 

You,  gentlemen,  can  do  much  to  promote 
its  growth,  by  the  prompt  publication  of  your 
papers  and  the  punctual  performance  of  all 
contracts  with  subscribers  or  advertisers. 
We.  as  a  conference,  can  do  much  by  only 
recommending  that  which  is  wise  to  be  done, 
ami  energetically  doing  that  which  we  pledge 
ourselves  to  do. 


Mr.  Bureh  offered  the  following  resolution, 
and  aslced  that  it  lav  on  the  table  for  future 
action. 

"  Resolved,  That  upon  all  questions  which  may  be 
submitted  to  this  Convention,  all  votes  shall  be  taken 
by  newspapers  represented,  allowing  each  paper  only 
one  vote." 


The  Convention  then  took  a  recess  till  4 
P.  M. 

On  reassembling,  the  session  was  occupied 
in  reading  papers  on  various  topics  by  dele- 
gates, and  at  the  conclusion  the  Convention 
adjourned,  to  meet  at  8  o'clock  at  Allen 
Temple,  corner  of  Sixth  street  and  Broadway. 

Evening  Session. 

The  Convention  assembled  at  AllenTemple, 
at  8  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  was  hon- 
ored by  the  presence  of  a  large  audience, 
who  manifested  a  lively  interest  in  the  pro- 
ceedings. 

Mr.  Brown,  from  the  Committee  on  General 
Business,  reported,  and  read  a  mass  of  cor- 
respondence from  prominent  colored  states- 
men ami  journalists,  expressive  of  sympathy 
with  the  objects  of  the  Convention. 

Letters  were  received  from  the  following 
gentlemen : 

Fred'k  Douglass,  Geo.  T.  Downing,  F.  G. 
Barbadoes,  J.  S.  Hinton,  J.S.Tyler,  A.J. 
Anderson,  D.A.Payne,  G.H.Graham,  E. 
R.  Williams,  W.  U.  Sanders,  Peter  Ander- 
son, D.  A.  Straker,  Jno.  Averett,  Wyatt 
Dillard,  Thomas  Adams,  Mrs.  S.  H.  Thom- 
son, and  others. 


The  Centennial  Tribute  to  the  Negro 


Mr.  B.  W.  Arnett,  from  the  Committee  on 
Centennial  Celebration,  made  the  following 
report,  which  Was  laid  over  fox  further  con- 
sidei  ation: 

"SECTION   I. 

"\\'iii:i:kas,  History,  in  its  general  meaning,  signifies 
an  account  of  some  rem  crkable  facts  which  have  hap- 
pened within  the  knowledge  of  man,  arranged  in  chron- 
ological order,  together  with  the  causes  which  pre- 
ceded them,  and  the  various  effects  which  they  pro- 
duced, and  as  history  is  said  to  be  the  light  of  truth,  we 
desire  to  let  the  coining  generation  know  our  true  histo- 
ry ;  therefore,  be  it 

"Resolvku,  That  we  will  publish  volumes  to  be 
known  as  the  'Centennial  Tribute  to  the  Negro,'  with 
tbe  following  departments: 

"1.     'Origin,  of  the  Negro.' 

'"2.  'The  Ancient  Glory,  or  t lie  Foot-prints  of  the 
Negro  m  All  Ages.' 

":{.  Introduction  of  the  Xegro  to  the  New  World, 
1620. 

"4. 


One  Hundred  Years  with  the  Negro  in  Battle. 
One  Hundred  Years  with  the  Negro  at  Sea. 
One   Hundred    Years   with    the    Negro    in    the 
Schoolhouse,  i  r  as  an  Educator. 

"7.     One    Hundred  Years  with  the  Negro  in  the  Pul- 


Oae  Hundred  Years  with  the  Negro  on  the  Plat- 


pit. 

"8. 
form. 

'  '.i      One    Hundred    Years   with   the   Negro   Lawyers 
and  Doctors. 

"lo.    one  Hundred  Years  with  the  Negroes'  Muse. 

"It.     One    Hundred  Years  with  the  Negroes'   Ptncil 
and  Brush,  <  nisei  and  Mallet. 

"12     one   Hundred    Years  wtih    the  Negroe's  Pen, 
and  Scissors,  and  Press. 

"18.    One  Hundred  Years  with  the  Negro  in  Business. 


"14.  One  Hundred  Years  with  the  Negro  as  a  Farm- 
er and  Mechanic. 

"15.  One  Hundred  Years  with  the  Negroes' Litera- 
ture. 

"16.    One  Hundred  Years  with  the  Negro  Professors. 

"17.  One  Hundred  Years  with  the  Negro  Statesman, 
or  Politician. 

"IS.    Negro  Martyrs. 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  two  be  appointed 
to  edit  and  superintend  the  publication  of  said  volume, 
and  tne  same  to  be  ready  by  the  4th  of  July,  1870. 

"Resolved,  That  the  editors  appoint  a  committee  on 
each  department,  and  the  duty  of  said  Committee  on 
Edition,  shall  be  to  collect,  compile  and  arrange  all  ma- 
terial belonging  to  his  special  department,  and  forward 
the  same  to  the  editors  by  the  1st  of  January,  1876 

"RESOf.VED,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed, 
to  be  known  as  the  Centennial  Committee,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be,  to  correspond  withx  the  Centennial  Com- 
missioner, and  urge  upon  him  the  necessity  of  having 
the  productions  of  the  colored  race  represented  in  the 
Centennial  Exposition;  and  the  said  committee  is  re- 
commended to  take  such  steps  as  they  in  their  judgment 
may  deem  expedient  to  have  the  religious,  literary,  ed- 
ucational, and  mechanical  interests  of  the  Negro  fully 
represented. 

"Resolvld,  That  the  said  committee  is  recommended 
to  produre  a  statue,  or  work  of  art,  from  Miss  Edmonia 
Lewis,  and  have  the  same  placed  on  exhibition  at  the 
Centennial  Celebration,  in  the  name  of  the  colored 
women  of  America ;  and  that  the  committee  be  insti- 
tuted at  the  close  of  the  Exposition,  to  place  said  work 
of  art  in  some  public  building,  or  park  in  the  city  of 
Washington,  there  to  remain. 

"Rksolved,  That  the  committee,  if  necessary,  or- 
ganize a  Centennial  Association,  or  committee,  among 
our  ladies,  to  raise  money  to  carry  out  the  above  recom- 
mendation." 


(5) 


PROPOSED   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

The  Committee  on  Press  Association,  pre- 
sented the  following  report,  which  was  laid 
over  for  further  consideration  : 

Cincinnati,  August  4,  L875. 

"The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  examina- 
tion of  the  suggestion  li  oking  to  the  formation  ot  a  t  ress 
Association  and  cognate  subjects,  beg  leave  to  otter  the 
following  suggestions  to  the  <  onvention  : 

"Suggestion  1.— That  a  Press  Association,  consisting 
of  owners,  editors  and  professional  writers  for  news- 
papers conducted  by  colored  men,  be  established  by  the 
Convention  now  assembled  here.  That  such  Associa- 
tion, when  formed,  shall  elect  its  own  officers,  make  its 
own  regulations,  and  prescribe  its  own  rules  of  admis- 
sion, and  its  laws  of  government.  That  the  election  oi 
officers,  and  all  other  business  necessary  to  a  complete  or- 
ganization, take  place  in  this  city,  between  Wednesday 
and  Friday  next. 

"SUGGESTION  2— That  the  Convention  designate  some 
newspaper  owned  and  edited  by  colored  men,  now  iu 
existence,  or  to  he  established,  as  the  organ  of  the  col- 
ored people, and  that  the  Convention  appeal,  by  addrest 
and  otherwise,  to  the  various  Colored  societies,  such  at 
.Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  Good  Samaritans,  and  others,  to 
set  apart  a  yearly  sum  of  money,  for  which  they  shall 
receive  a  compensation  in  a  specified  number  of  copies 
of  the  journal,  as  a  certain  mnans  of  support  for  it,  and 
the  place  of  its  publication  be  determined  by  the  Con- 
vention. 

"Suggestion  3— That  a  company  be  formed  at  this 
Convention,  representing  at  least  ten  weekly  journals, 
with  a  view  of  dealing  with  some  manufacturing  house, 
for  the  securemeut,  under  contract,  or  otherwise,  the 
materials  used  in  newspaper  publication,  at  a  cheaper 
rate  than  can  be  bought  of  different  houses,  and  tlvat 
such  company  elect  its  own  officers,  and  adopt  the  regu- 
lations necessary  for  its  own  government,  provided  this 
be  done  be  ore  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention. 

"Suggestion  4— That  all  known  colored  editors,  who 
have  founded  or  conducted  newspapers  in  this  couatry, 
be  made  honorary  members  of  the  Convention  ;  and  that 
the  letters  written  in  apology  for  their  absence,  form 
part  of  the  recotds  of  the  Convention,  provided,  it  be 
understood  that  no  person  shall  become  a  member  ol 
the  Press  Association,  or  the  Business  Company  formed 
at  the  Convention,  except  those  actually  connected  with 
existing  newspapers. 

"J.  Sella  -Martin,  ") 

"L.  H.  Douglass,      > Committee." 

"Henry  Scroggins,  I 


mind  relative  to  the  colored  people  in  the  South,  as  evi- 
denced in  the  disparaging  tone  of  the  Northern  press, 
and  recent  extraordinary  utterances  of  some  of  our  here- 
tofore staunch  friends,  and  the  unfinished  mission  under- 
sell by  the  Nation  to  exalt  our  race  to  the  standard  of 
American  citizenship  ;  the  denial  of  our  rights  iu  certain 
portions  of  our  country,  through  the  means  of  a  vitiated 
public  sentiment;  the  indifference  manifested  by  the 
American  people  to  the  shocking  outrages  perpetrated 
upon  us  in  the  South,  such  as  ihe  recent  massacre  at 
Yicksburg,  during  the  peaceful  celebration  of  the  Ninety- 
ninth  Anniversary  of  American  Independence,  and  the 
consequent  demoralization  resulting  therefrom,  taken  in 
connection  with  the  necessity  of  a  higher  development 
of  our  moral,  material  and  political  interests,  render  it, 
in  our  judgment,  essential  that  we  meet  in  National  Con- 
vei  tion,  eariy  in  next  year,  to  devise  means  for  'a  more 
perfect  union,'  such  as  will  consolidate  our  people,  and 
i-ecure  that  harmonious  action  throughout  the  country 
on  all  matters  of  National  interest  so  needful  to  a  just 
appreciation  of  our  numbers  and  influence  in  the  Repub- 
lic; therefore,  be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  we  invite  the  colored  people  of  the 
several  States  and  Territories,  and  of  the  District  of 
Columbia,  to  send  representatives  to  the  National  Con- 
vention hereby  called  to  meet  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
on  the  first  Wednesday  of  April,  1876,  at  12  o'clock,  M. 
upon  the  following  basis  of  representation  :  Three  del- 
egates from  each  .State,  and  one  additional  for  every 
twenty-five  thousand  colored  population  and  fractional 
part  thereof,  and  one  from  each  Territory,  excepting  the 
District  of  Columbia,  which  shall  be  entitled  to  four 
representatives,  to-wit : 


Quite  a  spirited  little  debate  occurred  on 
the  report  of  the  committee,  Senator  Burcb 
objecting  to  any  but  the  owners  of'  newspa- 
pers being  eligible  to  membership  in  such  As- 
sociation, and  speaking  in  rather  a  sarcastic 
vein,  of  the  large  number  of  proxies  and  form- 
er newspaper  men  in  the  Convention.  Rev. 
Mr.  Turner,  and  several  other  ••proxies,"  re- 
sisted the  objection!  and  indulged  in  several 
sharp  exchanges  with  the  Senator  iron; 
Louisiana.  It  being  the  general  feeling  that 
the  action  of  the  Convention  on  the  subject. 
should  be  more  in  the  form  of  a  recommenda- 
tion to  the  newspaper  men,  the  report  was 
recommitted  to  the  committee  lor  amend- 
ment. 

NATIONAL  CONVENTION. 

The  Committee  on  National  Convention 
made  the  following  report: 

"TO  THE  COLORED    PKOPLE    OF  .AMERICA — A   CAIL   KOI! 
A    NATIONAL  CONVENTION. 

Whereas,   The  unhealthy   condition  of    the   public 


Alabama 23 

Arkansas 8 

Calif  oi  nia 4 

(  onnecticut 4 

Delaware 4 

Florida 7 

Georgia 25 

Illinois   5 

Indiana 4 

Iowa 4 

Kansas 4 

Kentucky 12 

Louisiana 18 

Maine 4 

Maryland 10 

Massachusctt> 4 

Michigan 4 

Minnesota 4 

Mississippi....'. 20 

Missouri 8 

Nebraska 4 

Nevada 4 

New  Hampshire 4 

New  Jersey 5 

Total , 


New  York 6 

North  Carolina 1!» 

Ohio 6 

Oregon 4 

Pennsylvania <i 

Rhode  Island   4 

.South  Carolina 20 

Tennessee 16 

Texas 14 

Vermont 4 

Virginia 24 

West  Virginia 4 

Wisconsin 4 

District  of  Columbia 5 

Arizona 1 

Colorado 1 

Dakota 1 

Idaho 1 

Montana 1 

New  Mexico 1 

Utah 1 

Washington 1 

Wyoming 1 


.337 


"  In  order  to  secure  the  success  of  this  call,  and  to  have 
each  State  and  Territory  represented  in  the  Convention, 
your  committee  recommends  the  creation  of  an  Execu- 
tive Committee  in  each  State,  which  shall  have  full 
power  in  the  premises,  and  to  that  end  submit  the  follow- 
ing resolution  : 

"  '  RESOLVED,  That  an  Executive  Committee  of  thiee 
in  each  State,  be  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  Con- 
vention, who  shall  constitute  sub-committees  for  their 
resp<  1  tive  States,  to  carry  out  the  details  in  the  elfction 
of  delegates  to  the  National  Convention,  and  in  appoint- 
ing the  time  and  designating  the  manner  of  elections.'  " 

Mr.  Youtig,  of  Louisiana,  objected  to  the 
clause  in  the  preamble  of  the  report  referring 
to  the  denial  of  the  civil  rights  of  the  colored 
people  of  the  .South.  He  thought  enough  had 
been  said  on  that  subject,  and  could  see  no 
use  of  keeping  up  the  same  old  whine. 

Mr.  Turner,  of  Georgia,  spoke  warmly  in 
favor  of  retaining  the  clause.  Congress  had 
patched  up  an  apology  for  a  Civil  Rights  Bill, 


(  6) 


but  it  amounted  to  very  Little.  The  colored 
people  had  not  their  rights,  and  would  not  get 
them  through  Congress  for  years  to  come 
without  agitation.  lie  had  been  down  to 
Long  Branch  a  couple  of  weeks  ago,  and  had 
a  magnificent  ride,  with  a  white  man  for  a 
driver,  bul  when  it  came  t<>  getting  hotel  ac- 
commodations he  w;is  shoved  out  of  the  tirst- 
class  hotels,  and  compelled  to  seek  shelter  in 
an  obscure  part  of  the  town.  This  was  what 
he  protested  against,  and  what  he  would  al- 
ways protest  against  until  he  could  have  the 
same  privileges  as  the  \\  bite  man. 

Messis.  Jackson  and  King  supported  Mr. 
Young's  views,  and  wanted  to  know  why  Mr. 
Turner  had  not  sought  his  lesral  rights  through 
the  courts.  They  were  tired  of  shaking  the 
same  old  bloody  bones  in  the  face  of  the 
American  people  continually.  There  were 
plenty  of  laws  in  the  interest  of  civil  rights, 
and  all  the  colored  people  needed  to  get  their 
rights  was  wisdom  and  determination. 

Mr.  Shaw,  of  Memphis,  insisted  that  the 
clause  was  necessary.  It  was  possible  that 
Congress  would  not  be  able  or  willing  to  do 
anything  further  for  the  colored  people,  but 
the  colored  people  must  appeal  to  the  good 
heart  of  the  American  people  for  the  securing 
and  vindication  of  their  lights. 

Mr.  Martin  spoke  in  favor  of  the  clause,  and 
asserted  that  the  only  way  for  the  colored 
people  to  get  their  rights  was  to  keep  on  ask- 
ing for  them  lrom  the  great  body  of  white 
people.  He  was  teady  to  beg  all  the  time. 
[Applause  and  laughter.]  The  spirit  of  de- 
pendence, where  one  was  w  eak,  was  as  manly 
us  the  spirit  ot  independence  where  one  was 
strong. 

Mr.  T.  Morris  Chester,  of  Louisiana,  spoke 
in  lavorot  the  clause.  It  was  all  very  well 
for  Mr.  Jackson,  of  Kentucky,  to  talk  about 
the  colored  people  having  alf  the  rights  they 
would  ever  get,  and  possessing  through  the 
Courts  redress  for  wrongs  imposed  on  them, 
but  he  did  not  think  any  appeal  to  the  Courts 
in  Kentucky  would  amount  to  anything  where 
a  colored  man  was  concerned.  He  did  not 
believe  there  could  be  a  jury  impanelled  in 
that  State  that  would  bring  in  a  verdict  in 
favor  of  a  negro  w  hose  rights  had  been  denied 
him.  He  did  not  know  whether  it  really  was 
so,  but  he  would  venture  the  assertion  that 
nearly  all  the  delegates  in  the  Convention 
had  come  here  on  the  smoking  car. 

Mr.  Jackson — I  didn't,  for  one. 

Mr.  Chester — Then  1  guess  there  wasn't  any 
smoking  car  on  the  road  you  came  over. 

Mr.  Chester  continued,  and  said  he  was 
proud  of  the  colored  race  and  the  progress 
they  were  making  in  education  and  industry. 

Governor  Pinehback  expressed  his  sympa- 
thy with  the  manly  and  independent  senti- 
ments that  had  been  uttered,  but  said  he  knew 
the  difficulties  colored  people  labored  under 
in  the  South.  Shortly  after  he  was  elected 
the  railroad  company  refused  to  allow  his 
wife  to  ride  in  the  sleeping  car,  after  he  had 
bought  tickets  for  her,  and  he  had  brought 
suit  against  the  company,  the  case  was  de- 
layed, and  the  company  wanted  him  to  with- 
draw the  suit.     That  he  had  refused  to  do, 


but.  agreed  to  let  it  drag  and  not  prosecute  it 
if  they  would  treat  him  and  his  family  right. 
Since"  that  he  had  not  only  ridden  in  the 
sleeping  cars,  but  had  even  had  a  special  car 
placed  at  his  disposal.  He  was  in  favor  of 
seeking  redress  of  the  wrongs  of  the  colored 
people  by  appeals  to  the  people,  which  he  be- 
lieved would  eventually  bring  about  the  re- 
quired remedy. 

After  some  further  discussion  the  report 
w  as  adopted  as  presented,  and  the  Conven- 
tion adjourned  to  10  o'clock  this  morning. 

Thuk&day,  A.  M.  Aug.  5,  1IS75. 

The  Convention  resumed  its  sessions  with 
the  President,  Mr.  Peter  II.  Clark,  in  the 
chair. 

On  motio'n,  the  report  on  Press  Associa- 
tion was  taken  up  seriatim,  and  discussed. 

The  first  was  adopted. 

The  second  suggestion,  as  to  establishing 
an  organ  and  providing  means  of  support, 
was  read,  and  Mr.  Clark,  who  had  called  Mr. 
L.  H.  Douglass  to  the  chair,  moved  to  lay  the 
suggestion  on  the  table,  which  was  agreed  to. 

The  Secretary  moved  to  amend  the  motion 
by  striking  out  the  second  suggestion,  which 
was  agreed  to. 

The  third  suggestion,  that  a  company  be 
formed  of  newspaper  publishers,  for  *  the 
purpose  of  dealing  with  certain  houses,  was, 
on  motion  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Jackson,  strieken  out. 

On  motion  of  Governor  Pinehback,  Section 
4  was  stricken  out.  The  report,  as  amended, 
was  then  adopted. 

Mr.  Burch  moved  that  every  newspaper 
represented  here,  be  officially  notified  of  this 
action  of  the  Convention,  which  was  second- 
ed by  Mr.  Clark,  and  agreed  to. 

Mr.  Clark  offered  the  following: 

"Rfsolved,  That  it  is  befitting  a  convention  of  col- 
ored men,  assembled  on  the  Centennial  Anniversary  of 
the  birth  of  the  liberator  of  Ireland,  and  friend  of  hu- 
manity, Daniel  o'Connell,  to  recall  with  gratitude,  his 
eloquent  and  effective  pleas  for  the  freedom  of  our  race, 
and  we  earnestly  commend  his  example  to  his  country- 
men, who,  as  citizens  of  the  United  states,  are  too  often 
found  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemies  of  liberty." 

Mr.  Claik  made  some  very  happy  remarks 
in  regard  to  the  subject  matter  of  his  resolu- 
tion. 

H.  M.  Turner  followed  in  the  same  strain, 
and  concluded  with  the  hope  that  the  adop- 
tion and  publication  of  the  resolution  would 
soften  the  prejudices  and  hostilities  of  the 
irishmen  to  the  negro  race. 

Governor  Pinehback  favored  the  resolution. 
Some  of  his  most  ardent  supporters  in  his 
city,  were  irishmen.  It  was  true,  that  when 
you  can  make  a  friend  of  an  Irishman,  he  is 
your  warmest  friend  He  spoke  of  the  fact 
that  in  the  Catholic  Church,  where  most  of 
the  congregation  was  Irish,  the  colored  mem- 
bers of  that  church,  in  the  South,  enjoyed  the 
same  privileges  as  the  whites.  There  was 
no  such  invidious  discrimination  in  that 
Church,  as  there  is  in  the  Protestant 
Churches. 

A  standing  vote  was  then  taken,  and  the 
resolution  adopted  unanimously. 


(7  ) 


Mr.  Douarlass,  in  the  chair,  suggested  that 
the  resolution  be  telegraphed  to  Wendell 
Phillips,  who  is  at  this  hour  delivering  an 
oration,  in  Boston,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
O'Connel  Anniversary.  The  suggestion  was 
adopted.   * 

The  report  of  the  committee,  providing  for 
the  publication,  by  the  Conference,  of  a 
Centennial  volume,  in  regard  to  the  work  of 
the  Negro,  ki  the  various  occupations  in  the 
United  Stales,  during  the  past  hundred  years, 
was  then  taken  up. 

Mr.  Clark  moved  an  amendment,  to  the  ef- 
fect that  the  Committee  on  the  Centennial, 
be  requested  to  publish  such  a  volume,  which 
was  adopted. 

JVir.  Clark  moved  to  strike  out  the  1st  and 
2nd  sections  of  the  first  resolution,  and  so 
much  of  the  4th  as  refers  to  correspondence 
between  the  Committee  and  Centennial  Com- 
missioner, which  was  adopted. 

The  resolution  to  procure  a  work  of  art,  to 
be  placed  in  the  Centennial  Exposition,  in 
the  name  of  the  Colored  Women  of  America, 
was  then  taken  up. 

Mr.  Afimett  remarked,  that  he  was  in  favor 
ol  this  proposition,  to  have  the  race  represent- 
ed by  this  work  of  art.  His  iemarks  were 
strikingly  patriotic  and  eloquent.  He  was 
especially  in  favor  of  colored  women  being 
represented  in  that  Exposition;  and  he 
was  glad  this  proposition  had  come  up  to 
recognize  the  colored  race  through  them. 

The  resolution  was  then  agreed  to. 

The  report,  as  amended,  was  then  adopted. 

Governor  Pinchhack,  taking  the  floor, 
stated  that  he  believed  most  of  the  business 
for  which  the  Convention  had  assembled, 
was  accomplished.  The  Committee  on  Edu- 
cation, on  account  of  the  illness  of  its  chair- 
man, had  not  reported,  and  he  suggested. 
that  it  be  left  for  publication  in  the  proceed- 
ings. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Martin,  the  report  as 
read,  and  considered  in  caucus,  as  follows, 
be  adopted,  which  was  agreed  to: 

REPORT  OF  THE  BUSINESS  COMMITTEE. 

Mr.  Wm.  G.  Brown,  Chairman  of  the  Busi- 
ness Committee,  submitted  the  following 
report,  which  was  adopted: 

"Whereas,  We  regard  the  American  Nation  as  a 
great  crucible,  in  which  are  being  fused  the  various 
characteristics  of  the  races  of  the  earth,  from  which  will 
spring  the  fu tore  American  citizen  :  and  the  welfare  of 
the  present,  as  well  as  that  of  the  future  generations, 
depends  upon  raising  the  character  of  each  citizen  to  the 
highesl  point  of  excellence  :  and  knowing  that  igno- 
rance, poverty,  and  moral  degradation,  in  part,  must 
disastrously  affect  the  interests  of  the  whole;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  Thai  we  sincerely  deprecate  the  preju- 
dice which  has  compelled  us  to  resort  to  separate  race  or- 


|  ganization  for  the  advancement  of  our  interests,  and  the 
securement  of  our  rights  as  a  civilized  people,  and  that 
to  whatever  we  recommend  as  worthy  of  the  attention 
and  effort  of  the  colored  people,  we  earnestly  invoke  the 
favorable  attention  of  our  white  fellow-citizens,  pledging 
them  in  return,  our  hearty  co-operation  in  all  enter- 
prises, which  have  for  their  purposes,  the  improvement 
of  the  condition  of  any  class  of  American  citizens,  or 
for  maintaining  the  peace  of  the  Nation  at  home,  and 
sustaining  its  prestige  abroad. 

"That  we  deeply  deplore  the  spirit  of  malevolence 
that  has  enforced,  and  -till  follows  us  unto  the  separation 
which  we  have  vainly  sought  to  escape;  and  not  less  do 
we  deplore  the  fact,  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
the  Pros  misrepresent  our  motives,  malign  our  char- 
acters, underrate  our  powers,  and  ridicule  our  aspira- 
tions on  the  one  side,  while  they  applaud  every  obstacle 
thrown  in  the  way  of  our  elevation  on  the  other,  on 
all  sides  we  meet  agents  and  elements  no  less  discourag- 
ing, tending  to  deprive  us  of  the  advantages  of  American 
citizenship:  to  depress,  and,  if  possible,  to  extinguish 
the  feelings  of  self-respect  and  the  habit  of  self-reliance 
on  our  part,  and  to  weaken,  if  not  destroy,  all  confidence 
in  our  ability  and  virtue  on  the  part  of  our  friends. 

"That  while  our  past  oppression  has  prevented  us 
from  acquiring  the  characteristics  which  belong  to  the 
higher  civilization,  we  repel  with  indignation,  as  utterly 
false  and  malicious,  the  accusations  made  by  Bishop 
Wilmer,  the  .New  York  Independent,  father  Ryan,  and 
those  who  join  with  them  in  asserting  that  the  colored 
people  of  the  South  are  hopelessly  degraded,  and  that 
they  'have  no  religion,  no  morals,  and  no  conscience.' 

"that,  considering  the  depths  of  poverty  and  igno- 
noranee  from  which  the  colored  people  of  the  South 
have  so  recently  been  lifted,  and  keeping  in  view  the 
limited  opportunities  for  improvement  at  their  com- 
mand, and  remembering  the  unscrupulous  and  relentless 
opposition  offered  again>t  our  advancement,  we  can  but 
contemplate  with  pride,  the  progress  made  by  our  people 
i  in  every  walk  of  life.  Prevented  from  purchasing  land, 
we  stui  cling  to  the  industries  connected  with  the  culti- 
vation of  the  soil;  denied  the  opportunities  of  education, 
we  snatch  the  chances  for  instruction  amid  fearful  dis- 
advantages; deprived  of  our  civil  rights,  we  are,  never- 
theless, actuated  by  patriotic  sentiments ;  refused  justice 
in  the  courts,  we  are  still  law-abiding  citizens  ;  excluded 
from  the  house  of  God,  we  -till  seek  the  protection  of 
that  (jod  whom  the  white  man  worships. 

"That,  knowing  the  elevating  influence  exerted  upon 
anj  race  by  wealth,  which  ever  seeks  to  anchor  itself  to 
the  soil,  we  cordially  approve  every  movement,  whether 
connected  with  schemes  of  emigration,  or  co-operative  so- 
cieties looking  to  the  ownership  of  lands  in  the  South,  or 
elsewhere,  by  colored  people,  for  their  systematic  cultiva- 
tion of  the  soil. 

"That,  recognizing  the  value  of  the  inestimable  boon 
of  education  to  our  children,  we  contemplate,  with  pro- 
found satisfaction  and  pride,  the  extent  to  which  edu- 
cational facilities  have  been  embraced  throughout  thi 
South,  by  parents,  lor  their  children  ;  the  advancement 
made  by  our  youth;  the  fidelity  with  which  our  teach- 
ers have  performed  their  duties;  and  the  fortitude  with 
which  they  have  endured  indignity  and  outrage;  and 
we  pledge  ourselves  to  exert  the  utmost  of  our  ability, 
our  energies  and  influence,  to  extend  and  perpetuate 
the  benefits  Of  common  school  instruction.-' 

Governor  Pinchback  then  remarked  upon 
the  happy  progress  and  termination  of  the 
Convention.  He  had  attended  many  meet- 
ings of  colored  men.  but  had   never  seen  as 


A  letter  from  Wendell  Phillips,  Esq.  to  the  President  of  the  Conference  says: 

"  I  am  glad  you  sent  me  thai  dispatch.     The  reception  was  most  cordial.     The  applause  from  an  audience,  some 
of  whose  members  would  fifteen  years  ago  have  hissed  it,  w*«  gratifying  evidence  of  the  marvellous  change  in  public 

feeling." 

\  letter  from  Geo.  L.  Kuttin,  Esq.  says: 

"  \  our  telegram  to  Wendell  Phillip*  was  a  happy  thought,  and  I  must  say  a  success.    I  was  in  Music  Hall  at  the 
time  it  was  skillfully  interjected  by  the  distinguished  orator  at  the  very  nick  of  time,  and  went  like  a  whirlwind.    1 

*aid  to  a  gentleman  who  sat  beside  me,  the  Convention  may  now  adjourn,  anil  its  members  go  home.    It  was  worth 
their  coming  together  tc    send  such  a  message  to  be  so  received. 


(8) 


many  men  of  talent  and  cultivation  present 
before.  And  to  this  fact,  perhaps,  as  well  as 
to  the  general  progress  of  liberal  and  jusl 

sentiments,  wa8  due  the  fact  that  the  Con- 
vention  had   been   treated  with  BUCh  marked 

courtesy  and  respect  by  the  newspapers. 
There  had  been  no  low  flings  in  their  reports, 
with  bul  one  exception:  and  members  bad 
been  designated  as  'Gentlemen.7  'Reverend,' 

'Senator."  &C  without  the  use  of  any  low 
epithets  so  common  heretofore.  It  was  an- 
other remarkable  fact,  that,  though  they 
cam*'  here  in  the  midst  of  a  warm  political 
contest,  not  a  word  of  political  partisanship, 
or  strife  had  been  heard.  He  concluded,  by 
moving  that  the  President  be  authorized  to 
have  the  minutes  of  this  Convention  published 
in  pamphlet  form,  tor  distribution,  pro  rata, 
among  the  members  of  the  Convention, 
which  whs  agreed  to. 
Mr.  Burch  offered  the  following: 

"Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  tins  Conference  be  re- 
turned t<>  the  Mayor,  citizens,  journals,  reporters  of  the 
city  papers,  and  officers  of  this  Convention,  for  the  many 
courtesies  extended  to  the  delegates." 

The  resolution  was  adopted  by  a  hearty 
and  unanimous  vote,  and  the  Convention  ad- 
journed,  sine  die. 


Thursday,  Aug.  5th,  iSTo,  5  P.  M. 

A  meeting  of  the  Delegates  to  Press  Con- 
ference, met  in  the  Union  Chapel. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Mr. 
P.  H.  Clark. 

On  motion.  Mr.  Henrj  Scroagins.  editor  of 
be  American  Citizen,  was  elected  Chairman, 
ind  .M  r.  G.  T.  Ruby,  Secretary. 

On  motion  ol  Mr.  P.  II.  (lark,  it  was  unan- 
imously 

"Resolved,  That  we  proceed  to  form  a  Press  Organi- 
sation, in  accordance  with  the  resolution  adopted  by  the 

'nillereliee." 

Mr.  Henry  Scroggins  was  then  elected 
President,  to  serve  until  the  next  meeting  of 

•  lie  Assoriat  ion. 

After  appointing  a  committee  to  draft  a 
Constitution  and  By-Laws,  the  Association 
idjourned,  to  meet  in  Ntasti VILLE.  TENN.  on 
die  1st  Wednesday  of  April,  18.(5. 


\ 


r  f  ^ 


